Chelsea fans should know the identity of the club’s next owner by the “second week of April” according to The Athletic journalist Matt Slater.

The Raine Group, who are in charge of the takeover process, are expected to produce a shortlist of “three or four” favoured bidders by the end of this week.

Some reports had suggested that interested parties would be informed as soon as today but, as offers were still arriving even after last Friday’s deadline, it appears that the decision on bids will take longer than anticipated.

Slater claims that there are “more than 20” proposals on the table and the sale price is likely to exceed £3bn, making Chelsea the biggest deal in the history of world sport.

With the “winner” of the bidding process expected to be known in three weeks, it should mean that any doubts about the Blues’ long-term future can be put firmly to rest. A licence of sale will be needed from the UK government, who will want to make sure none of the proceeds go to Roman Abramovich, but there is now some light at the end of the tunnel for supporters.